Recently, reports of celebrities testing positive for the novel coronavirus have been emerging (see here, here, and here, for example).

Their testing positive is much like an entertainment-industry “canary in the coal mine.”

If celebrities are testing positive, and if those celebrities have stand-ins who work around them and in their places, are those stand-ins vulnerable to contracting a new case of coronavirus, especially given that most of the industry-related COVID-19-related work conditions have expired or ended?

Although this is not a medical opinion, the answer is:

Yes, stand-ins are vulnerable.

Why Stand-Ins Are Vulnerable (Again)

The nature of stand-in work is that stand-ins frequently work indoors, sometimes in very close quarters, standing in a single position with crew working closing to them.

These stand-ins may be standing very close to each other, facing each other, and exhaling onto each other for lengthy periods of time. They may also be talking, sniffling, coughing, etc.

These stand-ins may be positive for the novel coronavirus but asymptomatic, positioned to spread to other stand-ins and other crew members.

Stand-Ins & Masking Up

Masks for stand-ins have largely gone away when working indoors. Long ago, SAG-AFTRA agreed to remove the protective language long ago that permitted stand-ins to wear masks in the event a production asked stand-ins to work unmasked.

Then, the Return To Work Agreement effectively expired, making masking when working as a stand-in potentially contentious — especially for stand-ins who may feel pressured to reveal their faces during camera setups, and who likely feel they have no authority to make their own health and safety choices on such matters on a set.

The Strike’s Collision with COVID

At that, SAG-AFTRA is on strike against work that the Return To Work Agreement used to cover (generally, AMPTP-related work).  Interim Agreements cover some of that work that has continued during the strike, but there are no known COVID-related provisions negotiated or promulgated covering that non-struck work.

SAG-AFTRA is unlikely bargaining for appropriate COVID-related work conditions with the AMPTP or independent producers right now when it is also trying to get the attention of the AMPTP to bargain over a literal return to work because of its strike.

SAG-AFTRA has expressed a “continued commitment to keeping casts, crews and all set workers safe in light of the changing impact of COVID-19,” and as far as Stand-In Central can tell, it is not forsaken that commitment.

However, the proof is in the pudding, and if those SAG-AFTRA unit members working on non-struck productions are unsafe in light of the changing impact of COVID-19, SAG-AFTRA’s actions will speak for the honest of its commitment — not its mere expressions.

How Are You Handling Things as a Stand-In around COVID?

In the event you go back to work soon to stand in, or in the event you are currently working as a stand-in on non-struck work, how are you handling COVID-19-related matters, and how are you taking news of celebrities testing positive?

Share your approaches in the comments below.